WALTER COVINGTON DUNCAN, M. D.—Among the representative
business men of Harrison township is Walter C. Duncan, M. D., a well-
known druggist of Clay City. A native of Indiana, he was born October
13, 1855, at Noblesville, Hamilton county. He comes from substantial
Scotch ancestry, being a lineal descendant in the fifth generation from
the immigrant ancestor, the line of descent being thus traced: Coleman,
Daniel Coleman, Henry Coleman, Coleman Covington, and Walter Coy-
ington.
    Coleman Duncan, who was born in Dumfrieshire, Scotland, came
with his brother George to America in colonial days, settling in Virginia,
where he lived during the remainder of his life. Daniel Coleman Duncan
removed with his family from Virginia to Kentucky, becoming a pioneer
of Hopkinsville, and was there employed in tilling the soil until his death.
James Coleman Duncan was born in Culpeper county, Virginia, but was
brought up on the Kentucky homestead. When a young man he came
to Indiana as a pioneer settler of Hendricks county. Taking up a tract
of timbered land three miles north of Salem, in the Fort Red School
House district, he reclaimed a farm from the wilderness, on which he
resided until his death, and many of his descendants are now living in
that vicinity. He was twice married, and was the father of sixteen chil-
dren, and as his second wife was a widow with six children when he mar-
ried her he had the care of twenty-two children, truly a patriarchal family.
    Coleman Covington Duncan was born in 1831, in Hendricks county,
Indiana, on the parental homestead. He was reared to agricultural pur-
suits, and as a boy eagerly seized every opportunity for increasing his
knowledge and advancing his education beyond that obtained in the com-
mon schools. When ready to start in life on his own account he em-
barked in the mercantile business, for a number of years thereafter being
located at Carpentersville, Putnam county, Indiana. From there he went
to Otterville, Boone county, Missouri, where he dealt in live stock until
after the breaking out of the Civil War. Returning then to this state,
he kept a hotel at Greencastle for a number of years, and then engaged
in the marble business in Illinois, first in Salem, and later in Vandalia.
Giving up that business, he again came back to Indiana, and after a short
residence in Brazil settled in Clay City, and here spent his last days, dying
at the age of seventy-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was
Elizabeth Glen, was born in Hendricks county, Indiana, sixty-seven years
ago, a daughter of William A. and Mary (McKenzie) Glen. Her par-
ents were both born in Virginia, of colonial ancestry, and were among
the earlier settlers of Hendricks county. Of the children born to Coleman
C. and Elizabeth Duncan four grew to maturity, as follows: Walter C.,
the subject of this sketch; James William; Mary; and Frank.
    Walter C. Duncan received his early education in the public schools,
and at the age of nineteen years began the study of medicine with Dr.
R.  H. Hogan, then one of the leading practitioners of Salem, Illinois.
He subsequently attended lectures at the Saint Louis Medical College
from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1876. The
ensuing year Dr. Duncan practiced with his former preceptor, and then
located in Vandalia, Illinois, where he was in active practice for eight
years. Removing then to Smithboro, Illinois, he was there located as a
physician for three years, in his professional career meeting with suc-
cess. Coming to Clay City in 1889, the Doctor purchased a drug busi-
ness which he has conducted most successfully ever since.
    Dr. Duncan married, in 1889, Mrs. Elizabeth (Perkins) Brown, who
was born in Bond county, Illinois, a daughter of Henry and Mary Per-
kins. By her marriage with Mr: Brown, Mrs. Duncan has one child,
William Brown, of Millbury Grove, Bond county, Illinois.